Valve mechanism for tanks and reservoirs.



PATENTED JUNE 11; 1907.

J. P. SENTER.

VALVE MEGHANIS APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 11, 19077 J. F. SENTBR. VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANKS ANDRESERVOIRS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4.1906.

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-No. 856,550. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. I J. F.'SBNTER.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR TANKS AND RBSERVOI APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SENTER, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TOMORGAN LLEWELLYN, MICHAEL G. WVEIDNER, AND JOSHUA HARRY STREET, OECHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application filed September 4,1906. Serial No. 333,109.

T0 (at!) 10/1/0177 it 710mg concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. SEN'rEn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful Valve Mechanism for Tanks andlies ervoirs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for flushing tanks, whether ofthe automatic or manually actuated type, and for other purposes where apredetermined supply of water or liquid is desirable or necessary in areservoir.

One of the principal objects is to provide novel and simple valvecontrolling mechanism that will obviate the necessity of floats, andwill also eliminate siphons in flushing tanks, yet securing the completedischarge of the contents of the tanks and the automatic fillingthereof.

Several embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through amanually actuated flushing tank. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through an automatic flushing tank.Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the same. Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view through a reservoir,

in which a constant level of water may be maintained. Fig. 6 is a topplan view of the same.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

Referring first to the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, an outercasing 7 of any suitable shape and structure is emloyed, within which ismounted. a reservoir 8. This reservoir has a bottom discharge nipple 9to 'which is connected an overflow pipe 9*, and an upper inlet or supplynipple 10, the latter being connected to the upper portion thereof, andhaving a delivery pipe 11 that extends into the lower portion of thereservoir. An upwardly opening valve 12 controls the discharge, and aninwardly opening valve 13 controls the supply or inlet, the latter valvehaving a stem 14 that projects into the upper portion of the reservoir.A lever 17 is fulcrumed, as shown at 18, between its ends on the top ofthe reservoir, and extends in a substantially horizontal directionthereover. One arm of this lever projects beyond the reservoir, and hassuspended therefrom, a vertically movable gravity tank 19. The lower endof this tank is in communication with the lower end of the reservoir 8,through a flexible conduit 20 of any suitable character, and thus itwill be evident that the liquid in the tank and reservoir will be at thesame level. The other arm of the lever terminates in a spindle 21, onwhich is slidably mounted a counterweight 22 that is secured againstsliding movement by a set screw 23. Secured to the arm of the levercarrying the spindle 21, is a depending link 24 that extends downwardlythrough the top of the reservoir, and is connected at its lower end toone arm of a bell crank lever 25, the other arm of this lever operatingagainst the valve stem 14, as shown. An overbalancing device isemployed, in the form of an upstanding stem 26 pivotally mounted on thefulcrum 18 of the lever and having a weight 27, adjustably securedthereon by means of a set screw 28. The stem 26 is offset from thefulcrum 18, and is provided with a horizontally disposed lug 29. Betweenthis lug and the base of the stem is a pin 30 carried by the lever 17.

The discharge controlling valve 12 is carried by the lower end of a stem31. that proj ects upwardly through the top of the reservoir, and hasits upper end connected to one end of a lever 32, fulcrumed on the topof the casing. A suitable handle 33 has a link connection 34 with theother end of this lever. The stem 31 extends transversely of the arm ofthe lever 17 to which the counterweight 22 and link 24: are connected,and the portion disposed directly adjacent to said lever 17, has a slot35, in which is located a pin 36 secured to the adjacent arm of thelever. 4

. Assuming the tank to be empty, the coun terweight 22 is su'llicient toraise the tank 19 and swing the overbalancing weight 27 to asubstantially vertical position, When the parts are so disposed, thevalve 12 will be closed, inasmuch as the pin 36 will be at the lower endof the slot 35. The inlet valve 13, however, will be in open position.There 7 weight 27.

fore, Water supplied to the inlet 10 will flow consequently 'maintainthe valve 47 in closed freely into the reservoir, and also-into thegravity tank 19, through the conduit 20. When the Water reaches apredetermined level, that which is in said gravity tank will overbalancethe weight 22and cause the arm of the lever carrying it to be raised.The pin 36 will therefore ride up in the slot 35, and will not affectthe position of the valve 12, but the link 24 will be also elevated,thereby moving the depending arm of the bell crank lever 25, andallowing the valve 13 to close, cutting off the supply of water.

To operate the device, the handle 33 is drawn downwardly, therebyunseating the valve 12, and permitting the discharge of water throughthe outlet 9. The weight of the parts 33, 34 and the lever 32 aresuflicient to maintain the valve 12 in open condition.

The water therefore flows freely from the reservoir 8, and tank 19, thelatter being held in its lowered condition by the overbalancing As soon,however, as suflicient water has passed from the tank 19, so that thecounterweight 22 will overbalance the weight 27 and tank, then such tankwill be raised, the stem 26 will be swung until it is in substantiallyvertical position. The pin 36 being in the lower end of the slot 35 andmoving downwardly, will force the valve 12 to closed position, and thebell crank lever 25 will be operated to move the supply controllingvalve to open position. Therefore the tank will automatically refilluntil the supply is again out ofl, as above described.

An automatic flushing tank is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The outercasing is designated 37, and located within the same is a reservoir 38,having a bottom discharge 39, to which is connected an overflow 40,while a supply pipe 41., extends through the upper portion of thecasing. The reservoir has a downturned delivery nozzle 42. A suitablemanually actuated controlling valve 43 is located in the supply pipe. Alever 44 is fulcrumed between its ends, as shown at 45 on the top of thereservoir, and from one arm of this lever depends a link or stem 46,carrying it. It also has a valve 47 that controls the discharge 39. Thesamearm of the lever has a reduced spindle 48, on which is adjust ablymounted a counterbalancing weight 49. From the other arm of the lever issuspended a gravity tank 50, having a flexible conduit connection 51with the bottom ofthe reservoir 38. An upwardly extending stem 52 ispivoted on the fulcrum 45 of the lever, and an overbalancing weight 53'is adjustably mounted thereon. The base of this stem is provided withan offset lug 54, and between said lug and base, is a pin 55 carried bythe lever.

WVith this construction, when there is little or no water in the gravitytank 50, the weight 49 will hold the same in raised position, and

condition. Wateris continuously supplied through'the pipe 41, and asthis level raises in the reservoir and tank, the weight of the latterwill overbalance the weigh-t 49, thereby swinging the lever andelevating or opening the valve 47. At the same time, the overbalancingstem 52 is swung so that the weight 53 thereof through the pin 55, willhold the lever and tank depressed until nearly all the water is out ofthe reservoir, whereupon the weight 49 will overcome the weight 53 andtank 50, again depressing the link 46 and closing the valve 47. It willbe evident therefore that this structure constitutes simple means foreffecting automatic and periodical flushing operations.

In Figs. ,5 and 6 there is disclosed mechanism for maintaining aconstant level within a reservoir, as for instance in the tank of a hotwater heating system. The reservoir is des ignated 56, andhas a bottomdischarge 57 connected to the hot water system or other apparatus, inwhich a constant supply of water is to be maintained. The inlet isdesignated 58, and has the usual depending discharge pipe 59, arrangedWithin the reservoir. The inlet is controlled by a valve 60, having astem 61 that projects into the reservoir, and is disposed in the path ofmovement of the downturned end 62 of a bell crank lever 63. A lever 64is fulcrumed between its ends on thetop of the reservoir, and one end ofthe lever 64 is connected by the link 65 with a bell crank 63. The samearm is provided with a reduced spindle 66, on which is adjustablymounted a counterbalancing weight 67. A gravity tank 68 is suspendedfrom the other arm of the lever, as shown at 69, and a flexible or othersuitable conduit 70 connects the lower end of the tank with the bottomof the reservoir. l/Yith this arrangement, it will be evident that aslong as there is a predetermined amoimt of liquid within the reservoir56, and tank 68, the weight of the latter will overbalance the weight67, and hold the link 65 in raised position. The arm 62 of the bellcrank 63 will therefore permit the valve 60 to remain closed, but whenthe level of the water lowers beyond a predetermined point, then theweight 67 will overbalanc-e the gravi ty tank 68, the link 65 will bemoved downwardly, and the bell crank 63 swung in a direction to forcethe valve 60 to open position. \Vater or liquid will thus be supplied tothe reservoir 56, and will continue to flow thereinto until the gravitytank 68 overbalances the counterweight 67.-

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape,

proportion, and minor details of construc- Y tion, may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an inlet and an outlet, oi'valve mechanism as sociatedwith one, a movable gravity tank, a flexible conduit having one endsecured to and communicating with the lower portion of the tank and itsother end secured to and communicating with the lower portion of thereservoir, and operating means ior the valve mechanism connected to thetank and movable with the same.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir. having an inlet and an outlet, of valve mechanism associatedwith one, a movable gravity tank located exteriorly of the reservoir, aconduit connecting the lower portion oi the tank with the reservoir, anda lever i'ulcrumed between its ends, one arm of the lever beingconnected to the tank, the other being connected to the valve mechanism.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an inlet and an outlet, of'valve mechanism controllingthe inlet and outlet, a lever fulcrumed between its ends above the topof the reservoir, connections between one arm of the lever and the valvemechanism, a movable gravity tank suspended from the other arm of thelever and located exteriorly thereof and alongside the reservoir, and aflexible conduit connecting the lower portion of the tank with the lowerportion of the reservoir.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an upper inlet, and a lower outlet, oi a movablegravity tank having a flexible connection with the reservoir, a leverfulcrumed above the tank and between its ends, said gravity tank beingsuspended from one arm of the lever, a valve controlling the inlet andhav ing a connection with the other arm of the lever, a valvecontrolling the outlet and having a stem that slidably engages saidlatter arm of the lever, and an actuating handle connected to the stemfor opening the discharge controlling valve.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an inlet and an outlet, of valve mechanism associatedwith one, a lever having a connection with the valve mechanism, amovable gravity tank having communication with the reservoir andconstituting operating means for the valve mechanism, a movable armassociated with'the lever and disposed in angular relation thereto, andoverbalancing means connected to said arm.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

l l l the combination with a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, ofvalve mechanism associated with one, a lever having a connection withthe valve mechanism, a movable gravity tank having communication withthe reservoir and constituting operating means for the valve mechanism,a S\Vll'l 2,'i11g arm associated with the lever and disposed in angularrelation thereto, said arm being movable to positions on opposite sidesof ,a vertical plane passing through the fulcrum of the lever, and anoverbalancing weight connected to said arm 7. In apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination with a reservoir having an inletand an outlet, of valve mechanism as sociated with one, a lever.tulcrumed between its ends and having one arm connected to the valvemechanism, a gravity tank suspended from the other arm of the lever andhaving communication with the reservoir, an upright arm pivoted on thei'ulcrum oi the lever and engaged with said lever, said arm beingmovable to positions on opposite sides of a vertical plane passingthrough the iulcrum, and overbalancing means connected to said arm.

8. In apparatus oi the character described, the combination with areservoir having a discharge, of a lever i ulorumed between its ends, amovable gravity tank suspended from one arm of the lever and having aflexible pipe connection with the reservoir, a valve controlling thedischarge and connected to the other arm, of the lever, an upstandingswinging overbalancing arm mounted on the fulcrum oi the lever andhaving an engagement with said lover, a weight adjustably mounted on thesame, and a counterbalancing weight mounted on the arm of the lever towhich the valve is connected.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an outlet, of a valve controlling the outlet, manuallyactuated means for moving the valve to open position, a device connectedto the valve for closing the same and having a limited movementindependently thereof to per mit the actuation of the valveindependently of the movement of said device, and a movable gravity tankhaving communication with the reservoir, said tank being connected tothe valve closing device and holding it inactive as long as there is apredeterminei'l amount of water in the reservoir but permitting saiddevice to move the Valve to closed position when the water level fallsbelow said predetermined amount.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having an outlet, oi a valve controlling the outlet, manuallyactuated means having a connection with the valve for moving the same toopen position, a weighted lever having a limited sliding engagement withthe connection and constituting means for moving the of the lever, aflexible conduit having one end 0 valve to closed position, and agravity tank connected to the lower portion of the tank hung from saidlever and having communiand the other connected to the lower portioncation with said reservoir, said tank holding of the reservoir, a valvecontrolling the inlet, the lever inactive as long as there is a prel anda bell crank lever, one arm of which is determined amount of water inthe reservoir, i connected to the valve, the other arm being butpermitting said lever to move the valve connected to the opposite arm ofthe lever to to closed position When the Water level falls, that fromwhich the tank is suspended.

the slidable engagements of the lever with the 13. In apparatus of thecharacter deconnection permitting the opening movement scribed, thecombination with a reservoir havof the valve independently of themovement ing an inlet, of a lever fulcrumed between its 40 of the lever.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with areservoir having a lower discharge, of a lever fulcrumed between itsends, a gravity tank having a flexible conduit connection with thereservoir and suspended from one arm of the lever, a counterbalancingweight adjustably mounted on the other arm of the lever, anoverbalancing device associated with the lever, a

I tank, a flexible conduit connecting the lower portion of the gravitytank with the-lower portion of the reservoir, said tank being suspendedfrom one arm of the lever, a valve I controlling the inlet, a bell cranklever asl sociated with the valve, a link connection between the bellcrank lever and the other arm of the first mentioned lever, and acounterweight adjustably mounted on said other valve controlling thedischarge, a stem conarm.

nected to the valve and having a slidable con- In testimony, that Iclaim the foregoing as nection with the lever, and an actuating I myown, I have hereto a'ffixed my signature handle connected to the stem.in the presence of two witnesses.

12. In apparatus of the character del JOHN F. SENTER. scribed, thecombination with areservoir hav- Witnesses:

ing an inlet, of a lever fulcrumed between its I l/V. C. VVESTER,

ends, a gravity tank suspended from one arm I E. A. PEALER.

ends on the top of the reservoir, a gravity

